Programs have disappeared from Control Panel

[Guitarman]

Today when I went on to control panel to uninstall a program I didn't want anymore, I found that half my programs were missing. The only programs showing up under uninstall a program were programs installed on my C: drive which in my case is an SSD. All the programs I have installed on my second drive which is a hard drive still work perfectly but just don't show up in control panel? I looked online and can find a thing to point me in the right direction? Would using ccleaner possibly have accidentally removed their registry entries? I am truly stumped on what to do because my pc is virus free and working perfectly so what has happened?

 

Thanks for your help, Jack

[KenB]

Hi Jack

 

CCleaner, itself, is generally OK.

It does have a registry cleaning option that we do not recommend.

If you have used this then it could be the cause of your problem.

 

Try a System Restore to a date just prior to your problem.

In Win8 this is not quite so straight forward as previous operating systems,

click here

 

Open the Search Box and type in ......system ...... "System Recovery Options" will be at the bottom.

 

Your files / photos / data will be fine.

[DSTM]

Further to KenB's good advice,

I am thinking maybe your AV scanner may have found something and quarantined the file.

If nothing works I would be inclined to run sfc /scannow from the elevated command prompt window.

[Guitarman]

Hey guys thanks so much for your replies! I did go back to a few weeks prior when I had made a full system image backup to my external hard drive and everything seemed to be fixed however I launched creative cloud and one update put me back to where I started: only programs installed on my SSD including microsoft redistributable stuff was visible under uninstall a program in control panel. So I put it back again to the same restore point and after launching skype a minute ago another update put me back again. It seems as if the next think I install / edit with an update is going to do this so restoring from a backup won't fix the issue. My brother (who has the same identical set up as me as I built it for him) says he had the same problem and he just ignored it and one day it went back to normal! So now I'm totally lost!!! I really don't think it's a virus though as it hasn't affected anything else with my system! Maybe there is something I just need to reload or enable! Im running qindows 8.1 from my SSD with the majority of programs installed on my Hard drive :)

[Guitarman]

Hey guys just found in my user folder on my c drive a .android folder and .idlerc folder? Sounds dodgy to me so I have deleted them! Are you guys familiar with this sort of thing?

[DSTM]

.idlerc is used by the Python Programming language. This is also installed as support for some programs that Use Python to run,

I would not have deleted as quite safe.

[Ray1000]

The only programs showing up under uninstall a program were programs installed on my C: drive

 

I would only have expected the C:drive programs to show up under uninstall a program ... I appreciate I'll probably be mistaken as someone would have mentioned it sooner.

 

Ray

[Guitarman]

Oh okay whoops because I do use python so I'll just reinstall it now... I have reinstalled it to my hard drive but now it has shown up in control panel?! So it can't just be my C drive programs being shown! It's just the majority of programs are not!

[Guitarman]

I have also turned on show hidden files and gone through both my drives to find nothing out of the ordinary! Maybe your right Ray! It's as if some sort of cache of all my programs has been wiped and now control panel is only seeing either programs on my C drive or new programs I install... Do you think Ccleaner could do this as Ken mentioned?

[Plastic Nev]

Ok, first thing to now check is exactly where did the reinstall of Python go, did it go to the ordinary drive or to the C drive, which is where I would expect it to be unless you redirected it during the install.

 

The programs on the ordinary drive do still open and work do they?

 

Ken may be right if you ran C.Cleaner with the registry cleaner part, it may well have deleted registry redirects. They will have been put in place by the original install when you directed the installer to install it on the ordinary drive. Those redirects will have been put there so that windows knows where to open the program from when asked for it, as Windows normally works on the assumption that all programs will be installed to the C drive.

 

If those programs still open and work OK from the other drive, I wouldn't worry too much as eventually Windows might put redirects back into the registry as you use the programs.

 

Nev.

[Guitarman]

I think your right Nev as this would explain how it miraculously fixed itself for my brother! Everything still works as normal it's just that most programs aren't listed in uninstall a program in control panel! All the ones that do come up however are installed on my C drive except for python which as I said I have installed since. I installed python on my hard drive (not the C drive where windows is installed) and as it has shown up in the list I believe that a registry entry has probably been removed! I dont think there is any other reason why it could act so strangely! Thanks so much for your help and I will make sure to post if/when this is sorted! Thanks so much! Jack

[Guitarman]

Wait guys you know that .android folder I found: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2053758/found-android-folder-cdrive-user-folder.html Should this be of concern? I don't have the mobogenie thing in my documents or anything and I do have an android phone so should I be worried at all?

[Guitarman]

Also I tried deleting the .android file but it was just re made again?? Im just worried it's some virus or spyware but my virus protection picks up nothing!

[Guitarman]

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2050463/android-folder-daemonprocess-txt-found-user-folder.html

[Guitarman]

Also Avast my anti virus recently blocked a browser extension that tried to go on to chrome? But I can't find it anywhere!

[Starbuck]

Also I tried deleting the .android file but it was just re made again??

If the .android file is being used by an installed program, then it will probably be recreated.

 

Im just worried it's some virus or spyware but my virus protection picks up nothing!

Most Anti Virus programs are not set to check for PuP's (potentially unwanted program) by default.

Nearly all Potentially Unwanted Programs are actually installed by yourself (although you may not realise it at the time)

Most AV vendors are loath to automatically remove these as some person (read 'Idiot' ) may actually want them installed.

So if the problem is down to PuP's, then your AV will not pick these up. ( unless you have configured it to detect them).

 

The first thing to do is to rule out these potentially unwanted programs.

You can do this with dedicated Adware removers.

 

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

• Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
  
• Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista, 7, or 8; instead of double-clicking, right-mouse click JRT.exe and select "Run as Administrator".
  
• The tool will open and start scanning your system.
  
• Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
  
• On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
  
• Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next message.
  

 

 

 

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your desktop.

• Close all open programs and internet browsers.
  
• Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
  Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
  
• Click on the Scan button.
  
• AdwCleaner will begin to scan your computer.
  
• After the scan has finished...
  
• Click on the Clean button.
  
• Press OK when asked to close all programs and follow the onscreen prompts.
  
• Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.
  
• After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[s0].txt) will open automatically.
  
• Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
  
• A copy of that logfile will also be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder.

 

Post the 2 reports here if anything is found.

Edited September 4, 2014 by Starbuck

[Guitarman]

Thank you Starbuck these programs were very helpful! I ran both and although the first didn't pick up anything the second (AdwCleaner) found this:

 

# AdwCleaner v3.309 - Report created 05/09/2014 at 16:27:11

# Updated 02/09/2014 by Xplode

# Operating System : Windows 8.1 (64 bits)

# Username : Jack - JACK-PC

# Running from : C:\Users\Jack\Desktop\AdwCleaner.exe

# Option : Clean

 

 

***** [ Services ] *****

 

 

 

 

***** [ Files / Folders ] *****

 

 

 

 

***** [ Scheduled Tasks ] *****

 

 

 

 

***** [ Shortcuts ] *****

 

 

 

 

***** [ Registry ] *****

 

 

Key Deleted : HKLM\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions\eofcbnmajmjmplflapaojjnihcjkigck

Key Deleted : HKCU\Software\STool

Key Deleted : [x64] HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\08121C32A9C319F4CB0C11FF059552A4

 

 

***** [ Browsers ] *****

 

 

-\\ Internet Explorer v11.0.9600.17239

 

 

 

 

-\\ Google Chrome v36.0.1985.143

 

 

[ File : C:\Users\Jack\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\preferences ]

 

 

Deleted [Extension] : eofcbnmajmjmplflapaojjnihcjkigck

 

 

*************************

 

 

AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [1119 octets] - [05/09/2014 16:25:34]

AdwCleaner[s0].txt - [1006 octets] - [05/09/2014 16:27:11]

 

 

########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[s0].txt - [1066 octets] ##########

 

Sorry for posting the whole thing but I was unsure what parts were needed! Looks like the dodgey extension and my registry being a little messed up is correct! It hasn't solved the control panel thing but I'm a lot more confident in my computer now and I'm sure the control panerl thing will sort itself when windows does an update next and registry entries will be re created! Thanks so much everyone for the help!!

 

Jack

[Starbuck]

Hi Guitarman

 

Sorry for posting the whole thing but I was unsure what parts were needed!

That's fine, the whole report is always beneficial.

 

Looks like the dodgey extension and my registry being a little messed up is correct!

That's true.

I didn't think that running those programs would solve your problem.

I recommended those programs because you said:

my anti virus recently blocked a browser extension that tried to go on to chrome? But I can't find it anywhere!

It sounded typical of Adware, so wanted to make sure that any lurking, got removed.

 

AdwCleaner and JRT can be removed now:

Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool again.

• Click on the Uninstall button.
  
• Click Yes when asked are you sure you want to uninstall.
  
• Both AdwCleaner.exe, its folder and all logs will be removed.

 

To remove JRT... just right click on the icon and select delete.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Guitarman, now we have seen the logs from those cleaners, and after you have removed them as Starbuck asked, some more things to consider.

 

I noticed two things, first you said that all was OK after doing a system restore, then some update then turned it all off again.

 

The next thing I noticed is that you are running Avast. Is it the free version?

 

We have stopped recommending avast due to far too many updates to the program causing problems, one other person I know of, the recent updates shut down her internet connection, also after some messing from the Avast technicians she found a paid for program no longer working and still no internet unless she turns Avast off, and it is the paid for version she is running.

 

If you are running the free version, I would get rid and go for a different antivirus.

 

First thing is do another system restore to a time everything was OK, Disconnect it from the internet to prevent that Avast update from coming in, then make sure you turn Avast off and uninstall it.

 

First then is turn on Windows defender so you can safely reconnect to the internet, and then find a different antivirus.

 

Nev.

[Guitarman]

Okay awesome I have done everything you suggested Starbuck!

 

I also discovered that it turns out the 'bad' browser extension was in fact something required to launch Battlefield 4 meaning it was nothing dodgy at all! Yes I have a full system restore point which when I go back to brings back all my programs however... The next program that is updated/ installed makes most of my programs disappear from the control panel. That is the only problem now everything else works totally fine! My games are fine, my production software is fine, Windows is totally fine except for that one thing! Are you certain it's avast? Im using the free one at the moment but what would you recommend as good virus protection as I'm happy to pay if it means I'm getting something decent!

 

Em just worried that after a lot of time to restore my pc I could be back to square one again and bearing in mind that backup also still has the stuff that I removed using Starbucks' programs! What would you do in my situation because I'll do whatever so that I can have faith in my system again!

 

Thanks so so much for your on going support!

 

Jack

[Plastic Nev]

OK Jack, just to be sure that it is or isn't Avast or is a windows update instead, you will need to turn all updates to manual and not automatic. First find Windows Updates in the control panel. (I think Windows 8 is similar to 7 which Is all that I know)

 

You should find "Change settings" click on that and then click the drop down menu and select "Check for updates, but let me choose Whether to download and install them"

 

That will give you the choice when Windows updates are presented to untick them all except one, let that one download and install, then check the system, if still OK continue till all are done, if it is a Windows download you will find it that way.

 

If it turns out to be a Windows update, right click on it and you will see the option to hide it so it can't be downloaded and installed again.

 

Also check within Avast if there is an option to make update downloads and installation a manual process, that way you can prevent the update from downloading.

 

Not having had Avast free or otherwise for some time, I cannot be sure if there is away to make updates manual.

 

I will leave Starbuck to recommend which antivirus is currently regarded the best or at least good.

 

Nev.

[DSTM]

My Avast is set to manual, Nev. Had no issues with Avast as yet.

[Guitarman]

Ok so I have looked into avast and I know how to set all my updates to manual but the only problem is my backup I made I think was just after windows installed some updates... I think... But I'm not certain! Personally I have found avast to be very good in the past but I would definitely change if I knew of a better one! Shall I go back to my backup and try the various different things you have suggested and is there a way I can remove windows updates? Or am I worth waiting to see if the next windows update sorts it out for me? Sorry guys I just don't want to effectively go back to where I started if you aren't pretty sure it can be fixed :)

 

Thanks!

 

Jack

[Guitarman]

Well I tried windows support to see if they would do anything but they wanted to charge me $99 just to access my pc and even if that would fix it I don't have 60 quid to throw at it! I just worry it's a bigger problem than a few bits are missing but there is no evidence that it is a bigger problem at all!

[KenB]

Hi

 

Correct me if I am wrong.

 

You have an SSD which is your main drive.

 

You have an external hard drive.

 

When you connect the external drive if you go to Control Panel > Programs and Features ( Win 8 ) you only see what is installed on C: [ i.e. the SSD ]

 

Question:

Are you absolutely sure that the installed programs on the external drive used to be visible ?

 

Install Revo-Uninstaller from here - click here

Scroll down to the bottom of the left column just below Version History

 

Connect up your external drive.

Run Revo.

Does the installed software on the external drive show up here ?